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Sunday, December 2, 2012

Salon and Spa Directory: The Essie Flagship Salon at Samuel Shriqui

I've been walking past Samuel Shriqui for many years -- I live right up the street! And, when I noticed them beginning work on the very first Essie Flagship Salon, which is right inside the hair salon, I was intrigued. And this weekend, I finally had the chance to get an up close and personal look at the space -- with a manicure and pedicure along the way, of course.

Fans of Essie's line will be excited to learn that there are close to 300 bottles of polish to choose from. Everything from the time-honored and coveted classics like Ballet Slippers and Mademoiselle to the current collections (like the Winter 2013 and brand-new magnetic Repstyle polishes) lines the walls. And, the nail polishes are all color coordinated from light to dark, not only within the rainbow but within their respective color families -- so it's both fun and easy to narrow in on your chosen hue. (Well, maybe not easy, but at least you can head to the color family you're looking for and go from there.)

The space is comfortable, minimalist and completely chic. The white walls are decorated with framed pictures of Essie nail polish bottles, while the leather couches are crafted in some of Essie's most popular shades, including Big Spender and Bahama Mama.

My manicure against one of the salon couches. Doesn't this color look just like the Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz?

And then there are the actual services! I experienced both a manicure and pedicure, and both were executed flawlessly. My nail technician paid extreme attention to detail, making sure my cuticles were healthy, my nails were buffed to a high shine, and my polish was applied with exquisite care. (In case you're wondering, I chose two colors from the new Winter 2013 collection -- the gorgeous, sparkly red Leading Lady for my hands, and the bright royal blue Butler Please for my toes.)

Adding to all of this? Everyone at the salon just couldn't be friendlier or more helpful. I was greeted by every single person, from the receptionist to the hairstylists to every single nail technician, and made to feel right at home. It was definitely a wonderful way to kick off the weekend!

At the Essie Flagship Salon at Samuel Shriqui, manicures start at $32 and pedicures start at $65. For more information and to book an appointment, call 212-472-6805.